Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, has instructed his attorneys to drop all ongoing defamation cases he filed against a number of people, citing advice he got during a New Year’s Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday, Akpabio reportedly revealed this.
He claimed to have brought almost nine defamation lawsuits against people he believed had lied to him and damaged his reputation.
He stated, “I had nearly nine cases in court against some people who lied about me, defamed me, and slandered my name.”
“However, as I listened to the priest, I became aware that he was speaking to me. As a result, I am directing my attorney to drop all legal actions against them.”
Akpabio launched several high-profile defamation lawsuits in 2025, one of which was directed against his coworker Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Due to accusations of sexual harassment, the Senate President filed a ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpoti-Uduaghan in late 2025. He rejected the charges and asked her to provide supporting documentation.
Akpabio’s wife also filed separate defamation lawsuits against the Kogi senator earlier in the year, claiming that specific allegations had harmed the reputation of her family.
After Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused the Senate President of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, the relationship between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan soured.
In addition, Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and others for remarks she claimed damaged her reputation in order to contest the steps taken against her.
Akpabio’s announcement on Thursday effectively ended any ongoing defamation-related lawsuits connected to the disputes.
